Changes this week.....

[Grossy Morrell]

One more thing :

McIntosh is our NUMBER ONE RUCKMAN and he needs to be treated like it. I thought he was injured until he reappeared late in the second half.

 

[Woodson]

MacMahon, Adams or Ross deserve a run in his place.

How about the Milky Bar kid?? FIVE GOALS and listed Best of the best for the Bee's.

What better way to introduce the kid to the AFL...wearing #35, it's Round 2 and the opposition is Richmond.

 

[The Teflon Dean]

Grant - 66.7% (one third of his 27 touches gone to waste) + 5 clangers

Christ, can anyone else remember when this bloke was just about the best disposal by foot in the entire competition?

Wells - 50% (5 of 10 touches hacked) + 1 clanger

Now THAT is damning. I am almost prepared to concede that the game plan is playing a part in all this because, if Daniel was playing instinctively, I'd find it hard to believe that his disposal stats could ever be that bad.

 

[The Teflon Dean]

You can't seriously believe that Hansen would have made any difference to the result yesterday.

That's not really the issue here. The fact is we need both height and pace in the backline and this kid has both.

Laidley utilises a spare man in defence on most occasions and, with the retirement of Archer, I can see no other player better suited for this role. The added bonus is that Hansen will also be getting an apprenticeship in a role he will be taking on long term further down the track.

Lachlan playing as the loose defender also gives us a potent weapon on the rebound with his run and endurance.

Under the current situation, I can't see any logical reason not to do it.

 

[Carnthe]

One more thing :

McIntosh is our NUMBER ONE RUCKMAN and he needs to be treated like it. I thought he was injured until he reappeared late in the second half.

That was baffling - he was only on the ground for 50% of the game???

 

[Twinkletoes]

Christ, can anyone else remember when this bloke was just about the best disposal by foot in the entire competition?

Yep, and a dead eye'd dick in front of the sticks. Geez we need straight kickers from here on in. We really should've had the Bombers licking their wounds and BURIED by halftime on Monday, but for some CRAP kicking for goal.

I'd much prefer Shagga to be gaining the bulk of his possessions within range of goal, for that very reason (despite his goal kicking accuracy not quite living up to his past high standards in the last couple of years).

T'toes

 

[shintemaster]

I'd much prefer Shagga to be gaining the bulk of his possessions within range of goal, for that very reason (despite his goal kicking accuracy not quite living up to his past high standards in the last couple of years).

T'toes

Part of the reason he took that Daniel Motlop-esque snap rather than going back for a set shot IMHO. He just has no confidence in his skills at the moment. For a player whose career was built around skills & brains rather than speed and strength that is a big worry. A bigger worry is if he keeps getting 25 odd possessions and butchering the ball. I can take that from Simpson, he offers a hell of a lot more in the middle, I can't take that from a player who is in the team for his polish.

 

[RoyalBlue]

Part of the reason he took that Daniel Motlop-esque snap rather than going back for a set shot IMHO. He just has no confidence in his skills at the moment. For a player whose career was built around skills & brains rather than speed and strength that is a big worry. A bigger worry is if he keeps getting 25 odd possessions and butchering the ball. I can take that from Simpson, he offers a hell of a lot more in the middle, I can't take that from a player who is in the team for his polish.

That shot for goal was pants, and was the focal point of a Grant spray I had ready for kangalicious, ToD, and TFW at half time.

Absolute shite.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

That shot for goal was pants, and was the focal point of a Grant spray I had ready for kangalicious, ToD, and TFW at half time.

Absolute shite.

A hell of a spray it was too...

Continued beautifully post-match also.

If I never hear the words '300k a year' for the rest of my life, I'll be fine... I got my fill.

 

[RoyalBlue]

I may have even instructed Grant to 'write Pratt a cheque Grant!' at one stage.*


(*Once again, I do understand that some people rated his game.)

 

[The Filth Wizard]

I may have even instructed Grant to 'write Pratt a cheque Grant!' at one stage.*


(*Once again, I do understand that some people rated his game.)

Over-rated his game, more like.

The guy got about 15k just for that miserable performance. Come on. Value for money? Pants.

 

[shintemaster]

Over-rated his game, more like.

The guy got about 15k just for that miserable performance. Come on. Value for money? Pants.

Yep. And on Pratt, considering he had the stuffing knocked out of him and the amount of time the ball spent in our backline after halfway in the second qtr I reckon he tried to haul our team physically out of the mire. He was trying everything for a while there and it just wouldn't happen. (P.S. Grant, next time don't pass to Swallow having a shocker when you can pass to Thomas who is on fire!)

 

[Chev Chelios]

That's not really the issue here. The fact is we need both height and pace in the backline and this kid has both.

Laidley utilises a spare man in defence on most occasions and, with the retirement of Archer, I can see no other player better suited for this role. The added bonus is that Hansen will also be getting an apprenticeship in a role he will be taking on long term further down the track.

Lachlan playing as the loose defender also gives us a potent weapon on the rebound with his run and endurance.

Under the current situation, I can't see any logical reason not to do it.

I agree that in the future Hansen may be the perfect player to fill this role, I actually hope that he is able to man a key forward instead of playing loose in defence.

Lachie has not shown any of the calm decision making or skill by foot in the VFL to suggest he could play that role this season. The North loose man in defense generally finds himself running backwards into packs as Archer, Colbert and Pratt have done, none of these players were asked to play that role until they were physically ready. If I remember correctly Colbert started in similiar positions to Hansen on the wing and centre.

My point isn't that Lachie shouldn't play as many games as possible, but that he isn't anywhere near ready to play a key role and to be honest hasn't proven himself to be an automatic selection in North's best 22.

I have no problem with Laidley asking him to earn a place through the seconds and prove that he deserves an opportunity rather than rushing him in as a reaction to an out of character round 1 team performance. Earning his place in the team might give him the confidence to make an impact when he is selected.

He is doing the apprenticeship for this position on the wing where he doesn't have to contend with players three times his size like Lloyd and Richo giving him the Zac Dawson treatment every week.

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

Out (for some time along with Brown)- Harding and Watt
Out to find form - Swallow plus Campbell (to small for the midfield/Thomas is the #1 small forward)

In Lower (no matter his form), McMahon, Hanson and Ross/Urquhart

"Thomas is the #1 small forward" I hope you are kidding...Thomas played a verygood, servicable first quarter and a half. Read the play well and kicked three good goals. That said, Matty Campbell has four times as much heart/fight and run in him and seems to love and relish playing about tens times as much.

Can never tire of seeing his kid-like enthusiasm and energy within the forawrd fifty, not to mention the enormous amount of pressure created closer to goal. Campbell has got a FAR more mature head on his shoulders and never includes un-needed, "flashy" (pardon the pun) play. This guy just gets the job done. I cringed after seeing Thomas try to play-on (again) and get embarassingly run-down. Team looks much better with two little ankle-biters, but i think for mine, the two would be Campbell/Ross or Adams

 

[Devil Fish]

Likes of Watt and Swallow will face some pressure on the training track.
.

Watt is safe as houses IMO. Into his 10th year at the club - you just can't buy experience like that. Believe me, I've tried.

 

[Devil Fish]

Watt is safe as houses IMO. Into his 10th year at the club - you just can't buy experience like that. Believe me, I've tried.

Looks like I was right again. (That's twice this year & we are only into round 2!!!).At least with Watt, you know what you're getting.

 

[DarwinRoo]

One more thing :

McIntosh is our NUMBER ONE RUCKMAN and he needs to be treated like it. I thought he was injured until he reappeared late in the second half.

Well if he wants to be the No 1 ruckman at the club then he has to put in the performance worthy of the position.

Hamish's work around the ground was what got him a nomination for AA not his tapwork. He was terrible against the Bombers.